fitness, health & fashion by model and YouTuber Kirby Anne Akindeinde

Finding the perfect trainer for you can sometimes be a bit of a mission, especially if you’re looking for something that combines performance with fashion. Well, ASICS have created a trainer that may just do the job. Welcome the ASICS Gel-Quantum 360…

First, let’s talk appearance. Combining a knitted upper with a gel sole, there’s plenty going on, yet somehow the trainer manages to stay easy on the eye. It’s effortlessly cool. The kind of trainer that you’d notice for all the right reasons. For me, the gel sole reminds me of that childhood attire (think 90’s jelly shoes or light up trainers worn with popper track pants) however, teamed with the knitted fabric and the Quantum 360’s sleek design, it’s been modernised to fit straight into any sports luxe wardrobe. Sporty Spice, eat your heart out.

Available in two colourways- all white/snow or peach and black– I have to say that my favourite is the white (so easy to throw on and just look at that glitter sole). I’m a bit of a minimalist and tend to stick around mono/nude colour palettes, with maybe a hint of colour if I dare, but that’s not to say that I don’t like the peach. Great for those who prefer a splash of colour- or to go all out! I team my peach pair with an all black outfit.

Source: jdsports.co.ukSource: jdsports.co.uk
OK, so we’ve done enough lusting over the design. Let’s conclude with one word- dreamy. Now for the tech…

The main aspect, hence the name, is that they include 360 degrees of the ASICS iconic Gel cushioning, designed to optimise protection from shock and the impact of running. Then there’s the FluidFit upper- streamlined, adaptable with movement and breathable. They’re also super light, supportive and comfortable. Wearable for both shorter and longer runs.

I do wear my sportswear pretty much everywhere, but I find these trainers so versatile and easy to wear from the gym to the shops/brunch/wherever-my-day-may-take-me! RRP £160, available online at JD Sports.

This week, Speedo launched a brand new movement in the hope to reduce drowning worldwide. It’s called Swim Generation and could seriously save lives.

Did you know that over 1,000 people loose their lives to drowning every single day?! It’s the third leading cause of death worldwide!

The initiative aims to help contribute to the reduction of drowning through increasing awareness and by providing people with the correct skills and knowledge to prevent drowning from occurring. They’ll be donating kit, time, funds and expertise to allow these lifesaving projects to have a real impact. It’s a global initiative and for some people, could be the difference between life and death.

The thing is, that they can’t do it alone. They’re not asking for much. In fact there are some small changes that you can make, named by Speedo as ‘Small Ripples’…

Small ripples:

– Have a conversation – let people know about Swim Generation

– Pledge your support to Swim Generation across social media

– Share a story – let people know about the issue

– Make sure you tell friends and family how to stay safe

– Post and share water safety messages on social media

To bigger things that really ‘Make Waves’…

Making Waves:

– Donate to one of the Swim Generation community partners

– Learn lifesaving skills

– Volunteer your time

– Drowning prevention – ensure you have an action plan in place to help keep you and others safe

Or if you are even more committed, it could be you who ‘Turns The Tide’.

Turning The Tide

– Help raise funds for one of the Swim Generation community partners – complete sponsored swim

Speedo are definitely in my good books lately. First it was Make 1k Wet, encouraging people to get more active and increase fitness in other areas by hitting the water and now they’re saving lives through Swim Generation. Why not spread the word or get on board yourself. You never know, it could help to keep somebody alive.

We’re all aware of the growing importance and urgency of protecting the environment, so it’s always great to see brands doing their bit to actually make an impact and not just as a marketing stunt! Volcom have been supporting sustainability from as early as 2005, where they launched their first eco-friendly products and have since been doing their bit one step at a time. With Volcom’s love for the sea, it’s no surprise that Caught Up In A Good Thing holds the ocean at the heart of the campaign; they have taken recovered fishing nets along with other discarded nylons and upcycled them to create a 100% recyclable yarn. Yay to protecting marine life and another yay to Econyl, their regenerated yarn!

The ocean friendly Simply Solid Swim collection is made from 78% Econyl and you can shop it here. Prices start from £20 and range up to £60 for their Simply Solid bodysuit. I opted for the Tri Bikini Top and Cheeky Bikini Bottoms in teal.

When it comes to health, exercise and diet seem to dominate our conversations but there’s one vital thing that isn’t spoken about enough… sleep!

I attended the FitBit Heart Rate Hotel to experience a high intensity workout followed by a rather different sleep session (read all about it right here). With the latter run by leading sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, I came away with some very interesting tips on how to improve your sleep. Here’s how!

1. Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. Who knew?! Apparently this breaks the fast (obviously) but also helps to increase metabolism and melatonin levels, which helps us to have a better quality sleep.

2. Keep hydrated! Drinking the recommended 2litres of water per day helps to reduce nocturnal restlessness. Pass the water, please!

3. Cut back on caffeine. Seems quite obvious but did you know that caffeine isn’t just found in coffee? It’s in soft drinks, teas and even chocolate bars and ice creams! Dr Nerina recommends no caffeine after 3pm.

4. Withdraw from technology at least one hour before bed. Now this one for me is a toughy- I’m scrolling through Instagram in bed never mind putting it down one hour before. Dr Nerina recommends swapping the iPhone for a book when it’s getting close to bedtime.

5. Go to bed early- ideally before 10.30pm. Or at least be resting by this time. Rest qualifies as relaxing in bed or on the sofa, perhaps with a book. No energy should be sent out after this time.

You can see more from Dr Nerina right here. She explained how she won’t see clients again until they try these top tips. So if you want to improve your sleep, you now know where to start!

Speedo have launched a brand new campaign in the hope to get more people into the water and improve their fitness via the fabulous sport of swimming. #Make1KWet aims to highlight the benefits of the sport and it’s ability to improve performance in other activities such as running.

To celebrate the launch, we headed to the beautiful Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel to pick up our goody bags and then strolled across to Canary Wharf Virgin Active, where we took to the water!

Wearing the latest Speedo kit- a body positioning swimsuit (which I have to say is amazing!) and Biofuse anti fog goggles- we were looking like pros, but could we keep up the pace once in the water?

Expert coach Annie Emmerson led the session whilst Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou showed us exactly how it should be done with world-class demonstrations. Split into three different groups dependant upon ability, we were in the water for a good 45 minutes following instructions from Annie and putting our bodies to the test.

As a keen runner and admittedly, a not-so-keen swimmer, the session made me realise that I have a long way to go if I want to master the sport of swimming. I learnt through isolation drills that, just like out of the water, my legs are much more powerful than my arms, which could be one downfall in my swimming game. My breathing technique also isn’t the best meaning that there’s plenty of room for improvement.

Honestly, I have never had a desire to swim. From a young age I had to be bribed to go to my swimming classes with the promise of pick’&’mix afterwards. On holiday, I would rather sunbathe than take to the pool and the thought of trekking to a UK pool quite frankly sounded like the worst idea ever. However, I have to say that although I’m not going to be a swimming enthusiast any time soon (although never say never!), I do think that I am now more keen to make improvements and see if it really does have an affect in other areas.

Once dried and fed we were introduced to Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel, who is the face of the new Speedo #Make1KWet campaign. Nathalie explained her original swimming fears and her journey to overcome them with the Speedo team. She was sweet, funny and extremely honest- a very likeable character who has made me want to tackle my own swimming insecurities even more.

Overall, I think that #Make1KWet is a brilliant idea- well done, Speedo. It’s refreshing to see a brand pushing people to take note of their health and fitness levels and encouraging more people to move away from their comfort zones.

Now, with my new kit at hand all I need to do is find out the location of my nearest pool…

Last week, I was invited to join team New Balance at their brand new Bicester Village store. Home to many premium and luxury brands, Bicester Village is the destination for anybody searching for quality products at great prices making it an ideal spot for New Balance to make home for their new outlet arrival. As well as being the brand’s most premium outlet store, it is also the first performance sports offering available at Bicester Village, so you can only imagine how excited I was to pay it a visit.

The Store

The boutique sized store fits perfectly with the usual New Balance style and has clearly been designed with much care and thought. It’s clean interior and bright lighting allows for the products to be show-cased to their full potential. There is also a clever use of storage, with hidden drawers holding masses of trainers- ready to try on and buy at the drop of a hat. No waiting around here!

There’s a clear divide between women’s and menswear with each having their own half of the store, so there’s no confusion as to where to head for what. The staff are also amazingly friendly and surprisingly well-knowledged, especially as the store only opened earlier this month.

It’s an intimate setting compared to their recent Oxford Street haven, but means that it only has room for the best products…

The Product

Stocked with the top picks of New Balance product, including premium ranges and limited edition pieces, anyone with a passion for great quality sportswear or athleisure will find themselves in NB paradise. The selection includes sought after ranges such as the ‘Explore the Sea’ pack, the New Balance x Horween Leather and the women’s J.Crew collaboration.

Trainer-wise, you will not be let down. There’s plenty to choose from across both lifestyle and performance for both men and women. Sneakerheads, beware! Although with outlet prices, there’s really no need to hold back.

My Top Picks

As part of the day, I was asked to pick out my favourite pieces… Not. A. Problem!

I have to say, I did spend most of my time running between the New Balance x J.Crew section and the changing rooms with a few cheeky stops by the trainers! Although my usual style is pretty monochrome (all black/no colour whatsoever/maybe some grey), the fit and style of the bright orange and blue set had me swooning and I just had to add it to my shopping bag! I also nabbed the most dreamy drop back vest top, a striped crop and two pairs of black trainers, of which one pair glows in the dark!!

I practically live in sportswear, so loved being able to try on all of the premium activewear pieces- the ideal additions to my athleisure wardrobe.

Decisions, decisions…My athleisure outfit!

With the beautiful Millie Cotton

A huge thank you to New Balance for an amazing day. If you’re a New Balance fan (or even just looking for some quality sportswear that won’t break the bank) then I would definitely recommend a trip to their new store. Enjoy! x

A cheeky snap with the other influencersSassy Kirbs! Not too sure what I was saying here…